Panhandle Research and Extension Center 1910-2010
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Panhandle Research and Extension Center 1910-2010 A Century of Change and Progress In Service to Western Nebraska About this Booklet As the Panhandle Research and Extension Center begins its second century of service to the citizens of Nebraska, we are also preparing to celebrate the accomplishments of the first 100 years by those who came before us. The purpose of this publication is to historically archive the progress made since the 50th Anniver- sary in 1960, and to serve as a time capsule pertaining to the current programs located in Scottsbluff for future generations. We intend to present a brief snapshot of the faculty and staff and document some of the major areas of research and extension activities being conducted in 2010. Editors: Dave Ostdiek, Bob Harveson, Dean Yonts, Bob Wilson, Tom Holman Systems Specialist; TBA, Feedlot Nutrition and Management Table of contents Specialist. Centennial Celebration Program ..................................... 3 Research Support: History of the Panhandle Center ................................. 4, 5 Research Feedlot Manager: Stephanie Furman. Farm Manager: The Panhandle District .................................................... 6 Gene Kizzire. Research Analyst: Ann Koehler. Research Coor- Photos ...................................................................... 7, 8, 9 dinators: Jim Margheim, John Thomas. Post-Doctorate Research Plant Pathology ....................................................... 10, 11 Associate: Gustavo Sbatella. Research Technicians: Clay Carlson, Community Development ............................................. 12 Dick Gatch, Nabor Guzman, Susan Harvey, Alison Hazen, Lori Livestock Research ....................................................... 13 Howlett, Bob Hawley, Les Kampbell, Randy Meter, Dennis Mo- Horticulture ............................................................. 14, 15 rimoto, Kathy Nielsen, Rex Nielsen, Trish Nielsen, Rick Patrick, Doug Pieper, Dave Reichert. Feedlot management and nutrition ................................ 16 Range Management ...................................................... 17 Administrative and Support Staff: Weed Science .......................................................... 18, 19 Sharon Holman, Administrative Assistant; Penny Marsh, Office Potatoes ............................................................. 20, 21, 22 Assistant, Pat Martin, Office Assistant; Marilyn Miller, Account- ing Clerk; Gordon Moeller, Building Services Technician; Robert Machinery Systems ................................................. 23, 24 O’Neill, Facilities Manager; David Ostdiek, Communications/ Soil fertility and nutrition ........................................ 25, 26 Technology; Peggy Penrose, Computer Systems Support; Steve Knorr-Holden Plot............................................. 27, 28, 29 Runion, Custodian; Barb Schlothauer, University of Nebraska Irrigation ................................................................. 30, 31 Foundation; Karen Schultz, Business Manager; Sandy Scoggan, Dry Bean Breeding ................................................. 32, 33 Custodian; Jeanne Yeoman, Receptionist. Dryland cropping systems ....................................... 34, 35 Entomology ............................................................. 36, 37 Nutrition ........................................................................ 38 Acknowledgements: Alternative Crops Breeding: ......................................... 39 Funding Acknowledgements: Oregon Trail Foundation, University of Nebraska Foundation. Source acknowledgements: Faculty and Staff: Elvin F. Frolik and Ralston J. Graham, College of Agriculture District Director: Dr. Linda Boeckner. of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: The First Century. Published in 1987 by the Board of Regents of the University Specialists and Educators: of Nebraska. Dr. Jeff Bradshaw, Entomology Specialist; Paul Burgener, Ag Profile of Progress: Serving Agriculture 50 Years. Scotts Bluff Economics Research Analyst; Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Experiment Station anniversary booklet published in 1960 Entrepreneur/Business Development Specialist; Dr. Lisa Franzen- by the editors of the University of Nebraska Department of Castle, Nutrition and Wellness Specialist; Dr. Bob Harveson, Information at the College of Agriculture. Plant Pathology Specialist; Dr. Gary Hergert, Soil/Nutrient Man- New Horizons for Agriculture in Western Nebraska. Published in agement Specialist; Dr. Karla Jenkins, Cow-Calf Production/Range 1956 on the occasion of the dedication of the Administration Management Specialist; Dr. Drew Lyon, Dryland Cropping Systems and Laboratory Building at the Scotts Bluff Agricultuural Specialist; Dr. Alexander Pavlista, Crop Physiology/Potato Special- Experiment Station (later named the Lionel Harris Building) ist; Dr. Dipak Santra, Alternative Crop Breeding Specialist; Steve Sibray, Groundwater Geologist; John Smith, Machinery Engi- neering Systems Specialist; Gary Stone, Extension Educator; Dr. On the cover: Carlos Urrea, Dry Bean Breeding Specialist; Dr. Robert Wilson, The view of the original office of the Scotts Bluff Ex- Weed Science Specialist; C. Dean Yonts, Irrigation Engineering perimental Substation on July 14, 1910. 2 Program Centennial Celebration Schedule July 24, 2010 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.: ................ Pancake breakfast 8:30 - 10:50 a.m.: .............. Exhibits and field tours 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.: ............. Welcome, introductions and centennial celebration 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: ....... Lunch 12:30 - 2:50 p.m.: ............... Exhibits and field tours 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.: ................. Watermelon feed Field Tours Field Machinery — From Horses to Satellites Changes in Sugarbeet Production Over the Last Century Irrigation developments: What’s Changed and What Hasn’t Exhibits on the Lawn Potato Types and Nebraska History The Food Preservation Journey A Century of Advancements in Plant Pathology From County Agent to Educator -- My, How We’ve Changed Beef: Improving Cattlemen’s Retail Value 4-H Celebrate the Past…Meet the Future Changes in the Feedlot Industry and Range Management Insect Management and Pesticide Safety Then and Now A Century of Small Grains Development Dry Bean Breeding Program A Century of Soil, Fertilizer and Corn Research 3 A brief history of the Panhandle Center: 100 Years of Research (And Extension) By David Ostdiek, Communications/Technology Associate Panhandle Research and Extension Center The Scotts Bluff Experimental Substation was es- tablished in 1910 so agricultural research could be conduct- ed on irrigated crops under local conditions. Starting with 160 acres and several buildings, the station has changed, expanded and moved, eventually becoming the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. Land was provided by the Bureau of Reclamation, which turned it over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1910 construction began at the original location 6 miles east of Mitchell (about 4 miles north of Scottsbluff on Highway 71, then 1 mile west on Experiment Farm Road). The plots were managed by the USDA until 1948, when the land and management were turned over to the state, and subsequently the university. In 1956 the experiment station moved into a newly constructed building, later named the Lionel Harris Building. In 1975 the station moved to its current location, the former site of Hiram Scott College. But the original site – now known as the Mitchell ag lab – is still an integral part of the research program. The mission of the Panhandle Research and Ex- tension Center has broadened to include not only research, but also extension – sharing with the public what is learned through research. From the earliest days to the present, much of the work done at the Scotts Bluff Station/Panhandle Research and Extension Center has been related to irrigated agricul- ture. Dryland agricultural research is performed at another unit administered by UNL in the Panhandle, the High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney. Today the Panhandle Research and Extension Center has 14 faculty members, most with joint research and exten- sion appointments, representing the following disciplines: beef nutrition and feedlot management, business develop- The three buildings that have housed the Panhandle ment and entrepreneurship, cow-calf production and range Research and Extension Center during its 100 years: management, entomology, weed science, irrigation manage- From top, the original buildings in 1915; the Lionel ment, machinery systems, plant pathology, soil and nutrient Harris Building, constructed in 1956; and the J.G. El- management, alternative crops breeding, dry bean breeding, liott building in 1975. potato production, crop physiology, hydrogeology, nutrition and wellness, and dryland cropping systems. In addition, Acreage grew to 320 acres, in addition to 800 acres of ex- there are technicians and administrative and support staff. perimental rangeland several miles north in Sioux County. In 1956, when Lionel Harris was superintendent, Panhandle Center’s Three Locations a new administration and laboratory building was dedicated The Panhandle Research and Extension Center has on the same site. The 8,600-square-foot Lionel Harris Build- been housed in three different buildings. At the original ing housed an auditorium, office space, five research labora- site, an office and laboratory had been built, in addition to a tories, and offices for administration, and research and ex- barn, grain bin, machine shed and other structures, by July